XG-fast: the 5th generation broadband

Traditionally, copper network operators complement a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) strategy with a hybrid fiber-copper deployment in which fiber is gradually brought closer to the consumer, and digital subscriber line (DSL) technology is used for the remaining copper network. In this article we propose the system concepts of XG-FAST, the 5th generation broadband (5GBB) technology capable of delivering a 10 Gb/s data rate over short copper pairs. With a hardware proof-of-concept platform, it is demonstrated that multi-gigabit rates are achievable over typical drop lengths of up to 130 m, with net data rates exceeding 10 Gb/s on the shortest loops. The XG-FAST technology will make fiber-to-the-frontage (FTTF) deployments feasible, which avoids many of the hurdles accompanying a traditional FTTH roll-out. Single subscriber XG-FAST devices would be an integral component of FTTH deployments, and as such help accelerate a worldwide roll-out of FTTH services. Moreover, an FTTF XG-FAST network is able to provide a remotely managed infrastructure and a cost-effective multi-gigabit backhaul for future 5G wireless networks.